2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) model 250-C turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by several reports of engine power loss, one of which resulted in a fatal helicopter accident. This AD requires removal of the power turbine governor (PTG) bearing assembly, part number (P/N) 2544198, and its replacement with a bearing assembly eligible for installation. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200LR series airplanes. This AD requires revising certain documents to provide revised operating limitations. For certain airplanes, modification of the water and fuel scavenge systems in the fuel tanks, electrical changes in the main equipment center, and installation of new electrical load management system (ELMS2) software is an acceptable alternative to the documents revision. This AD was prompted by reports of unreliable performance of the water and fuel scavenge systems. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document contains final regulations that address transactions that are structured to avoid the purposes of sections 7874 and 367 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and certain post- inversion tax avoidance transactions. These regulations affect certain domestic corporations and domestic partnerships whose assets are directly or indirectly acquired by a foreign corporation and certain persons related to such domestic corporations and domestic partnerships. This document finalizes proposed regulations, and removes temporary regulations, published on April 8, 2016.

On June 20, 2018, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) titled ``Update to the Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act.'' The CEQ is extending the comment period on the ANPRM, which was scheduled to close on July 20, 2018, for 31 days until August 20, 2018. The CEQ is making this change in response to public requests for an extension of the comment period.

The Commission is acknowledging a recent filing requesting the Commission initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to an analytical method for use in periodic reporting (Proposal Seven). This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The Copyright Office is proposing to establish a regulation regarding its procedures for closing out royalty payments accounts under section 1005, and updating its regulations governing online payment procedures for cable, satellite, and digital audio recording technology (``DART'') statements of account to no longer require that payments be made in a single lump sum. These amendments are intended to improve the efficiency of the Copyright Office's Licensing Division operations.

The FMCSA announces a public listening session on July 12, 2018, to solicit information on issues relating to the design, development, testing, and integration of automated driving systems (ADS) equipped commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) on our Nation's roadways. The listening session will provide interested parties an opportunity to share their views on the FMCSRs as they relate to the development and safe integration of ADS. It will also allow FMCSA to share with stakeholders the ADS strategy and open a channel for two-way communication. This listening session will supplement the information gathered from FMCSA's previous requests for comment on issues related to automation. The session will be conducted at the same location as the 2018 Automated Vehicles Symposium sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Transportation Research Board. During the session representatives from FMCSA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will solicit information on issues relating to the design, development, testing and integration of ADS- equipped commercial vehicles. Attendees are also encouraged to share any data or analysis on this topic with FMCSA and FHWA representatives.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone on Lake Michigan in Chicago Harbor, near the Ohio Street Beach in Chicago, IL on July 21, 2018. This action is necessary and intended to ensure the safety of life and property on navigable waters prior to, during, and immediately after this annual swim event. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 280-foot radius of the launch site located at Hamburg Beach, Hamburg, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of Lake Erie during the Hamburg Beach Blast fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The EPA is proposing to determine that the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (CSAPR Update) fully addresses certain states' obligations under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) regarding interstate pollution transport for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. The CSAPR Update, published on October 26, 2016, promulgated Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) for 22 states in the eastern U.S. In the final CSAPR Update, based on information available at that time, the EPA could not conclude that the rule fully addressed CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) obligations for 21 of the 22 CSAPR Update states. This action proposes a determination that, based on additional information and analysis, the CSAPR Update fully addresses this CAA provision for the 2008 ozone NAAQS for all remaining CSAPR Update states. Specifically, EPA proposes to determine that there will be no remaining nonattainment or maintenance receptors in the eastern U.S. in 2023. Therefore, with the CSAPR Update fully implemented, these states are not expected to contribute significantly to nonattainment in, or interfere with maintenance by, any other state with regard to the 2008 ozone NAAQS. In accord with this proposed determination, the EPA proposes to determine that it has no outstanding, unfulfilled obligation under CAA section 110(c)(1) to establish additional requirements for sources in these states to further reduce transported ozone pollution under CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) with regard to the 2008 ozone NAAQS. As a result of this finding, this action proposes minor revisions to the existing CSAPR Update regulations to reflect that the CSAPR Update FIPs fully address CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I). The proposed determination would apply to states currently subject to CSAPR Update FIPs as well as any states for which EPA has approved replacement of CSAPR Update FIPs with CSAPR Update SIPs.

This regulation amends existing tolerances for residues of pyroxsulam in or on teff forage, teff grain, teff hay, and teff straw. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

On March 23, 2018, the State of New York submitted a petition to the Secretary of Commerce requesting rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act. The petition requests that NMFS revise the current state-by-state commercial quota allocations in the summer flounder fishery. This notice announces that NMFS, acting on the Secretary's behalf, has received this request, and provides the opportunity for public comment.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations for certain waters of the Choptank River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters located in Cambridge, MD, during a power boat racing event on July 28, 2018, and July 29, 2018. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US40-322 (Albany Avenue) Bridge across the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJICW) (Inside Thorofare), mile 70.0, at Atlantic City, NJ. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the free movement of pedestrians and vehicles during the 8th Annual Atlantic City Triathlon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

This action establishes Canadian area navigation (RNAV) route T-705 in the Northeastern United States (U.S.) by extending the route into U.S. airspace. The FAA is taking this action to expand the availability of RNAV routing and fill a gap in routing in northeastern New York that resulted from the decommissioning of the Plattsburgh, NY, VHF Omnidirectional Range Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC).

This amends Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at Phillips Army Air Field (AAF), Aberdeen, MD. This action accommodates airspace reconfiguration due to the decommissioning of Aberdeen non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approaches. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport, and replaces the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation for the Carolina Boat Bash in Little River Inlet, SC. This action is necessary to ensure safety of life on navigable waters during the Carolina Boat Bash. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the designated area unless authorized by Sector Charleston COTP or a designated representative.

Under section 211 of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set renewable fuel percentage standards every year. This action proposes the annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that apply to gasoline and diesel transportation fuel produced or imported in the year 2019. Relying on statutory waiver authority that is available when the projected cellulosic biofuel production volume is less than the applicable volume specified in the statute, EPA is proposing volume requirements for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that are below the statutory volume targets. We are also proposing the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel for 2020.

We are adopting amendments to the definition of ``smaller reporting company'' as used in our rules and regulations. The amendments expand the number of registrants that qualify as smaller reporting companies and are intended to reduce compliance costs for these registrants and promote capital formation, while maintaining appropriate investor protections. We are amending the definition of ``smaller reporting company'' to include registrants with a public float of less than $250 million, as well as registrants with annual revenues of less than $100 million for the previous year and either no public float or a public float of less than $700 million. We also are amending other rules and forms in light of the new definition of ``smaller reporting company,'' including amendments to the definitions of ``accelerated filer'' and ``large accelerated filer'' to preserve the existing thresholds in those definitions. Qualifying as a ``smaller reporting company'' will no longer automatically make a registrant a non-accelerated filer. The Chairman, however, has directed the staff to formulate recommendations to the Commission for possible additional changes to the ``accelerated filer'' definition that, if adopted, would have the effect of reducing the number of registrants that qualify as accelerated filers.

This final rule revises the current closure regulations for commercial shark fisheries. These changes affect commercial shark fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Revisions include changes to the landings threshold that prompts a closure and the minimum time between filing of the closure with the Federal Register and the closure becoming effective. This action is necessary to allow more flexibility when closing shark fisheries and to facilitate the use of available quota while still preventing overharvests.

This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to continue the import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological material from Libya previously imposed on an emergency basis in a final rule published on December 5, 2017. These restrictions are being imposed pursuant to an agreement between the United States and Libya that has been entered into under the authority of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. The document also contains the Designated List of Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Libya that describes the articles to which the restrictions apply. Accordingly, this document amends the CBP regulations by removing Libya from the listing of countries for which emergency actions imposed the import restrictions, and adding Libya to the list of countries for which an agreement has been entered into for imposing import restrictions.

On May 9, 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received a Petition for Rulemaking petitioning VA to amend its medical regulations by removing a provision that excludes ``gender alterations'' from its medical benefits package. The effect of the amendment sought by the petitioners would be to authorize gender alteration surgery as part of VA care when medically necessary. VA seeks comments on the petition to assist in determining whether to amend the medical benefits package and eliminate the exclusion of gender alteration from VA's medical benefits package.

The Commission is acknowledging a recent filing requesting the Commission initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to an analytical method for use in periodic reporting (Proposal Six). This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

On June 22, 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published in the Federal Register a request for information (RFI) to consider whether to amend DOE's test procedure for commercial water- source heat pumps (``WSHPs''). This notice announces an extension of the public comment period for submitting comments on the RFI or any other subject within the scope of the RFI. The comment period is extended to September 21, 2018.

On behalf of the President's Pay Agent, the Office of Personnel Management is issuing proposed regulations to establish four new General Schedule locality pay areas, make certain changes to the definitions of existing locality pay areas, and make minor clarifying changes to the names of two locality pay areas. The proposed changes in locality pay area definitions would be applicable on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2019, subject to issuance of final regulations. Locality pay rates for the four new locality pay areas would be set by the President after the new locality pay areas would be established by regulation.